The Government of Canada has confirmed that plastic pollution is everywhere in the environment, including on shorelines, in surface waters, sediment, soil, groundwater, indoor and outdoor air, drinking water, and food. The linear economic model of “take, make, use, waste” is no longer viable.

Here we are, heading into Year 3 of the Phone Case Recovery program. In year 1, Eco-Train had 3 brands, 1 distributor, and 280 retail locations working together to implement a more circular economy for the wireless industry. In year 2, the program grew considerably with 11 brands, 3 distributors and 650 retail locations all sharing the responsibility of cleaning up the mess. So far, Eco-Train and program partners have eliminated 63,480 lbs. of plastic waste. It’s a decent start, but we still have a long way to go. It’s going to take a lot more organizations, and consumers getting on board to make the dream of #WasteFreeFuture a reality!

This year Eco-Train aims to eliminate 1,000,000 lbs. of plastic and electronic waste from the wireless industry.

Eco-Train accepts

• Phones, tablets and smart-watches
• Phone and tablet cases
• Data cables, charging hubs and portable chargers.
• Mounts and screen protectors/screen protector trays
• Bluetooth products (ear buds and speakers)
• Wired earbuds
• Tracking devices (Apple AirTags/Tiles)

Eco-Train Inc. is proud member of the Circular Innovation Council and Recycling Council of BC

The project was undertaken with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). Board members are drawn from the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS), as well as from the general public. The members of the Expert Panel responsible for the report were selected by CCA for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance.  This report was prepared in response to a request from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Humanity’s current level of consumption is exceeding Earth’s ability to sustain it. In the current “take-make-use-waste” linear economy, raw materials are extracted to produce goods that are used and then discarded as waste. Though much of what we discard still holds value, just a small portion of materials is cycled back into the economy. The vast majority ends up in landfills, incinerated, or is released into the environment.

The linear economic model of “take, make, use, waste” is no longer viable. Although it has generated an enormous amount of wealth, it has also contributed to excessive extraction of natural resources and accumulation of waste. The linear production system is pushing the planet past its ecological limits and regenerative abilities. As well, it is exacerbating social injustices through the inequitable impact of pollution and distribution of wealth.

The Turning Point report presents a positive alternative for Canada to move forward in addressing these environmental, social, and economic challenges. The circular economy has the ability not only to ease the ecological crisis, but also to create jobs and mitigate social injustices, while allowing Canada to remain economically competitive. The circular economy is increasingly viewed as a desirable future for all economies, and Canada is well positioned to make the transition by coupling a national strategy with regional ventures.

Interest in the circular economy is exploding, and its body of work is growing rapidly.

The circular economy is an imperative. Only 6.1% of materials entering the Canadian economy come from recycled sources. This statistic warrants a pause. It means that Canada requires the extraction or import of new material to meet almost 94% of its manufacturing needs, with most material accumulating as either passive infrastructure or as waste. For Canada to maintain its strong economy and global competitiveness, meet its commitments to reducing carbon emissions and maintaining biodiversity, and keep its people prosperous and healthy, it is critical that Canada’s economy to become more circular.

The circular economy calls for systems change. Given the obvious benefits of the circular economy, we may ask why Canada’s economy is not more circular. This is because transitioning from a linear economy to a circular one requires most economic and social systems to change. Governments will need to embrace innovative policy measures and to coordinate the collection, pricing, and reuse of waste across all levels and jurisdictions. Businesses will need to adopt new business models and rework their supply chains. People will need to consume, use, reuse, and access services in new ways. As well, the circular economy will inevitably create winners and losers, and such shifts are especially difficult in an economy that is grounded in natural resource extraction. However, these systems can be changed—not through the action of any single actor, but by everyone coming together and playing a part.

Interest in the circular economy is exploding, and its body of work is growing rapidly.

The circular economy is urgent. As this report was going to print, the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report, which was called “code red for humanity” by the UN Secretary-General. The climate is changing at a faster rate than previously reported, and northern countries, such as Canada, will experience particularly severe impacts. Climate change is attributable to industrial production and the use and discharge of fossil fuels. It is not only imperative that Canada’s economy become more circular, but that it do so quickly.

Some of the most pressing policy challenges facing society today have to do with the state of the planet. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and stress on water and other resources may be environmental issues as we typically think of them, but their impacts are not isolated to just the environment. They affect every aspect of business and life.

There is growing awareness and engagement among various government departments and other stakeholders that solutions to these issues will require collaborative approaches and that siloed methods are no longer viable. The circular economy is a paradigm example of this multi-pronged approach. It necessitates participation from all sectors, including governments, businesses, and civil society.

Turning Point, provides an overview of the circular economy and its current state in Canada, including some of the tools and approaches for measuring it in practice.

Source – Turning Point – The Expert Panel on the Circular Economy

Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). 2021

Developing collection systems for used unwanted plastics of all types is critical if we are to have any chance at solving the global plastic pollution crisis. Regardless of the industry, supply chain stakeholders (brands, distributors and retailers) across the board must work together to develop material recovery programs to eliminate plastic waste. A radical systems change away from the traditional “take, make, use, dispose” way of doing things must happen, and it must happen fast! Part of the solution rests in understanding what materials are problematic but necessary, and figuring out how to deal with these materials in a sustainable, circular way. The other part of the solution is establishing collection methods that are simple, effective and affordable so that consumers find it easy to send plastics back into the circular economy for another life. The idea of waste itself needs to become outdated and obsolete. Mindlessly throwing things in the garbage, regardless of the material, must change and it must change fast. So, what are America’s major brands saying about all of this?

Companies like SC Johnson and Nestle have committed all of their brands to become more circular. Their targets and goals are in line with the Ellen McArthur Foundation and New Plastics Economy, to be 100% recyclable by 2025. The goal here is to get to a 100% landfill-free society.  There are major challenges to overcome, including product and packaging development, collection and sorting. However, there are many innovative new technologies and solutions becoming available every day. Advances in chemical recycling, AI and robotics will help solve the problem.  Chemical recycling answers a need that mechanical recycling can’t solve. The biggest requirement is that everybody must agree to implement strategies, programs and technologies that will lead us down the path of becoming a waste-free society.

US Government, both at the state and federal levels are ramping up legislation quickly to help America get on track. Major policy changes are happening. For once, Republicans and Democrats are on the same side of this issue.  Advancing the circular economy creates jobs and is great for the environment. How we deal with plastic has a huge amount of mind share within US Government.  It’s 10% of the total waste stream but getting 100% of the attention.  There have been more hearings in 2020/2021 than in the past 20 years combined in US Congress.

One of the re-occurring concerns at the is the challenge of getting consumers to participate in the infrastructure that is being implemented. How do we educate the public to be more mindful of the waste they are putting into the environment? How do we get consumers to change their habits of throwing things of value in the garbage and believing it’s perfectly acceptable? Clearly it is not. Many companies are engaged in purposeful, mission driven work while inspiring consumers to participate.  No one company, but all of them working together is required to get the message to consumers.

Eco-Train has set out to make a difference by creating a simple, effective and viable solution for industry stake holders and consumers to eliminate plastic waste from the wireless industry. Our program is working in Canada. Now is the time to bring the program to the United States.

Such an exciting time to be in the plastics recycling industry!

Year after year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, in the not too distant future, it will run out. That’s why we must think again about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.

Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030. There is no doubt recycling is on the front line in the war to save the future of our planet and humanity.

Heading into the third year, the Phone Case Recovery has been widely adopted, coast to coast, all across Canada.  Working with multiple brands, distributors and retailers, Eco-Train has implemented a material recovery program to eliminate all waste from the wireless industry. Starting this year, Eco-Train is accepting consumer returns of data cables, chargers, speakers, headsets, headphones, mounts, screen protector alignment trays, devices, and phone/tablet cases.   Plans are in place to launch the program in the USA and other international markets this year.

Eco-Train will offer for the first time, three Membership Levels to retailers looking to participate.

Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognize, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first. The mission of Global Recycling Day, as set out by the Global Recycling Foundation, is twofold:

1. To tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.

2. To ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.

Last year Eco-Train was awarded one of the ten #RecyclingHeroes awards. We were the only company in North America to receive this honor. If you want to nominate another company for this award in 2022 please check out www.globalrecyclingday.com

 

Eco-Train utilized the Tesla Trans-Canada Supercharger network while generating ZERO EMISSIONS along the way.

The full trip from Vancouver to Halifax is documented below as well as on the on the following social media pages.

Retailers subscribe through the following wireless accessory distribution partners.

2021 BRAND SPONSORS

British Columbia – Canada

Connects Wireless – BELL – One of the original 12 first Canadian dealers to participate in the program

APEX Wireless – TELUS – One of the original 12 first Canadian dealers to participate in the program

Andres Wireless – TELUS – One of the original 12 first Canadian dealers to participate in the program

Pela, Eco-Train and Andres Wireless – Three of the original companies to partner on the Phone Case Recovery Program

Alberta – Canada

Phone Experts – TELUS

Saskatchewan, Canada

SaskTel

Ontario – Canada

Quebec- Canada

Cooperative Edouard Montpetit

New Brunswick, Canada

Nova Scotia, Canada

Vancouver to Halifax – Complete

Eco-Train brings multiple Brands, Distributors and Retailers together to eliminate the plastic waste generated by the Phone Case Industry.

Canada is a beautiful and diverse country, both culturally and geographically.  Here are some of the amazing things I experienced along the way.

• 2 Oceans (Pacific and Atlantic)
• 4 Mountain ranges (Coastal, Selkirk, Rockies and Appalachian)
• The Prairies
• 4 Great Lakes (Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario)
• Canadian Shield, Georgian Bay, French River, St. Laurence Seaway and Fundy tides
• 8 Provinces (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia)
• 4 Time Zones
• 32 Tesla Charging stations – $365 total cost

Business Accomplished

• 20 retail partner visits
• 18 meetings with potential new partners.
• Secured partnership with PLAEX Building Systems

Recreation along the way

• Mountain Biking
• Hiking
• Paddle boarding
• Golfing
• Camping

Seeing family and friends in Niagara after 16 months of pandemic travel restrictions – PRICELESS!!

1 Atlantic Lobster eaten.